Cord lock



Patented Sept. 27, 1 927.A

' UNITEDA srAfrE-'sA V'PATlsatVr OFFICE.

FOSTER F. HILLIX,'OF CLEVELANP, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WHITE SEWING MACHINE CORPORATION, CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION F DELAWARE.

conn Loox.

'Application meld December 16,1922. Serial No. 607,287.

This invention relates to locks for `elec-l trical extension cords and has for its object to provide ay device vwhich will take 'the strain oil' the connection between the wires of the cord and the terminals to which they are connectedvso as -to prevent loosening or breaking of the electrical connections.

A further object is to provide avsimple locking device which c-an be readily slipped l0 upon the cord and fastened in place thereon by means of a simple hand tool so that the lock'can be convenientlyY applied in making connections between the wires 'of an exten- V sion cord and the conductorterminals ofv the device to which the cord is attached.

With the above and other objects in view', the'invention may be -said to` comprise the devices shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described and particularly claimed,- together with such modliications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Reference should be had to the accom- 25.panying drawing forming a part of this specification in which Fig. 1 is a. side elevation partially in section Showing the cord lock applied to the connection between a cord and the connection plug; Fig-2 1s a sectional view showing the locking member lbefore it is compressed. into locking engagement with the cord Fig., 3 is a sectional view showing the locking member after it has been` compressed upon the cord; Figs; 4 and y5 are side elevation and a. transverse section respectively showin the device applied vto av double cord. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the metal collar and the enclosed sleeve. v -f Referring to the annexed drawing, the extension cord 1 comprises inner insulated wires 2 and an outer cover or casing 3' of fabric or other suitable material. The locking device consists of an outer'sheet metal sleeve 4 which has a small end 5 of a size to fit slidably upon the cord and an enlarged end 6 within which fits a sleeve 7 of compressible and flexible insulating material such as rubber, the internal diameter vof which.- is substantially the same as lthe internal'diameter of jthe small portion 5 of the outer sleeve. As shown in Fig. 2 the sheet metal sleeve 4 withthe-rubber sleeve 7 fitting inthe enlarged end'thereof can be readily slipped upon the end of the extension cord. By means of a suitable tool a partv of the enlarged portion 6 of the sheet `metal sleeve is crimped inwardly against .the rubber sleeve 7 compressing the sleeve 7 against the cord 1 and firmly locking the device in place upon the cord. The outer edge of the rubber sl'eeve 7 projects beyond the edge of the enlarged portion 6 of the outer sleeve and when the outer sleeve is crimped inwardly compressing the sleeve 7 against the cord, the outer edge 8 of the sleeve 7 projects outwardly and overlies the edge of the sleeve 4 serving to insulate and protect the metal sleeve 4 against electrical contact with theterminals of the connection to which the cord may be attached.

The present invention is applicable to connections betweenan extension cord and conductor terminals of any xture or connectingv member. In Fig. 1 the cord lock is shown applied to the connection between an y tween the cord 1 andthe plug.' The cordV `lock is applied tothe cord 1 close to the endwhich is attached to the plug-so that the i enlarged portion 6 thereof lies within the cover 11 and bears against the inturned flange 13 of the c0ver `11. Any pull or strain 1 i upon the'cord 1 is thus imposed upon the flange 13 of the cover 1l b reason of the engagement of the enlarged portion 6 of the lock therewith and the connections between the wires 2 and. the terminals 10 are entirely relieved of such strains so that there is n0 tendency for the connection between the cord and terminals to work loose or become broken.

Referring to Figs. 4and 5 in which the cord lock is shown applied to a double cord consisting of a, pair of insulated wires 15,v the outer metallic sleeve 16 is oval in shape, and 'has a small end 17 adapted to lit closely over the wires 15 and an enlarged end 18 Within which vfits an oval rubber sleeve 19, the sleeves 16 `and 19 being otherwise exactly the same as the sleeves 4 and 7 previo ously described.

- Having described my invention, I claim- The combination with a cord of insulating material having conductors therein, of a rigid collar clamped upon the cord com- 10 prislng an inner sleeve of compressible -in- FOSTER F. HILLIX. 

